I am happy to say that I have a glaze fire in progress as I write this post which includes my effigy doll! I’ll have to see if I can whip out a body for him in the next couple of days so that I can post the results before leaving on our Griswold family vacation. Meanwhile, I found these 2 clay “prints” above the other day while doing a little studio clean up. These are the simplest of clay prints one can probably make. Simply take a leaf, flower or other item and impress the whole thing into the clay. For these, I added black underglaze and wiped it away which highlights the impression.
I remember making these when I was in school a few years ago for a clay book that I was working on, but never finished. Both sides are printed and it was to become an accordian book bound by wire. The only problem now, is that I can’t find the other “pages” so I’ve decided to glaze only 1 side and will then devise some kind of rustic hanger so these may be wall mounted. I glazed these with a celadon glaze and am interested to see what the transparent pale green glaze will look like over the red clay body.
Last week, I received a phone call that surprised and inspired me - so much so that I had to wait a few days before I could blog about it. Out of the blue, Paul Wandless called me after seeing my blog post about his book, Image Transfer on Clay. He confessed to me that he normally doesn’t call people like that, but he happens to know both my former college ceramic professor, Ray Chen, and my ceramic’s mentor and dear friend, Mary Cay. It’s a small world, isn’t it??
At any rate he gave me some excellent advice on making my own ceramic decals and other alternative processes for transferring imagery onto clay. Did you know that you can do intaglio and solar plate printing on clay? I didn’t either, but am excited to read about it in Paul’s new article coming out this September in Pottery Making Illustrated.
We talked a good bit about stretching the boundaries of traditional clay work and printmaking which excited me so much. I have thought a lot about my push to bring my work to the market versus making work that truly speaks to me on a deeper level. You know what that work is when you’re making it. Your insides sing and time ceases to matter. It’s a bit different than production work - not that there’s anything wrong with that because, of course, we all need to make a living somehow.
Our conversation reminded me of a sentence that I recently read in Art and Fear on the topic of approval and acceptance…
The only pure communication is between you and your work. (pg. 47)
I’ve thought about that sentence a lot and what it really means. Can we live in a vacuum so pure that the rest of the baggage that comes with making art doesn’t matter? I myself have a hard time turning the noise off and it seems to me that must be a most Zen-like disposition to possess.
Meanwhile, Paul is trying to ignite a revolution if anyone is interested!
Thinking in Colorado,
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omg! that is so exciting that you got a call from Paul Wandless. his book is on my amazon wishlist. i’ll definitely have to check out his article. thanks for the link.
That it great about the phone call. Those out of the blue things always seem to come to spur one on.
Cynthia,
One of the things I love about you is your work, even the production things! I doubt if what they are talking about in ‘Art and Fear” is even possible. Or perhaps it is that I am not ‘artist’ enough, but we don’t live in a vacuum so how can we communicate in nothing-ness? And with whom are we communicating? Don’t I know my own thoughts well enough to know and feel easy in them? Yes, sometimes something seems to almost possess us so we pour it out in whatever art form we’ve chosen, but to pure communication, I don’t think is possible in this realm of a dimensional world. Our minds can’t yet grasp an undimensional world, so how can we think in one?
Uh-Oh! I’m getting way too esoteric and probably sound stooopid! Sorry, but I think you have a good balance in your work and that you can take the blessing, good fortune of what you got out of phone call and make it work for you in it’s own way! It’s what you do so well, Cynthia! I love that!
I think that it was a moment of serindipity Peppa!
I think the phone call came at an opportune time, Janet.
Oh, thank you Mary! Well, I did take the quote a little bit out of context too, but it has stuck with me for awhile. I suppose it’s akin to the same philosophy of making and doing what you love and the money will come. It’s just something to think about.
I love how the internet creates these connections. There is so much negativity about the ubiquitousness of it all plus the dangers, but I have had mostly good experiences, like this one you just had.
That is awesome about Paul Cynthia. It sounds like an amazing experience and it goes to show the reach that one has with their art and blog.
Andrea,
I have also had really good experiences, Andrea with the opportunity to meet face to face and now on the phone.
I suppose it could be scary, but don’t we kind of have a 6th sense about these things?
You just never know who might stumble onto our blogs, Shawn. It is exciting and a bonus to the many reasons I continue to keep my blog going.
How exciting Cynthia, talking with Paul Wandless.
Love the leaf and the black underglaze.
As usual, a great blog read.
It’s so exciting to keep up with your art journey, Cynthia. What a wonderful surprise on the phone call!
That art & fear quote is very true…
Cynthia, of course you will receive calls Like Paul’s, you work is well worth universal recongnition. I’m in awe everytime I visit your blog.:)
BTW his site is also a treat to see, thank you for the link!
That would be sooo exciting! You are very right, it is a small world.
Wonderful finds! I look forward to seeing your new works. 
Thanks for sharing everything with us! *HUGS*
Cynthia you where born to blog. You are a natural. Your posts come into my inbox and I dont have time to read each one but every time i do I think wow this girl can write interesting stuff. For someone who had no interest in ceramics I have been reading and looking at the pictures with great interest. Keep it up girl!
Thanks Nancy - unfortunately, it didn’t do so well in the glaze fire!
Oh, it’s quite a journey Jean!
You think so Diana? I’m still digesting it.
Thanks Angela!
Thanks Kayleen - ceramics is so specific medium wise, I wasn’t sure I’d have much to talk about - silly me!
Hello All-
I see everyone saying these nice things about me and it makes me smile. It’s why I love art so much……the people you meet and the memories you share. Art is a a conversation and a vehicle for folks to come together have a dialogue and come away different. Cynthia is a great conduit for this communication and her curious mind will take her far. It’s obvious from the comments here what a supportive and creative group clay folk can be!
If you see me at NCECA or anywhere else for that matter, please introduce yourself and say hello!
Paul
Thanks for the comment Paul - I hope to make it to NCECA next year or the following!